Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, July 30th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

2 Samuel 4:10

Once before a man thought he would bring me good news. He told me, ‘Look! Saul is dead.' He thought I would reward him for bringing me the news. But I grabbed this man and killed him at Ziklag.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Assassination;   Government;   Ish-Bosheth;   Rechab;   Zeal, Religious;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Kings;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Baanah and Rechab;   Justice;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - David;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Kill, Killing;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ziklag;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Court Systems;   Gospel;   Rechab;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Baanah;   Gospel;   Rechab, Rechabites;   Ziklag;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Gospel;   Gospel (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Baanah ;   Ishbosheth ;   Rechab ;   Ziklag ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ziklag;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Zik'lag;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Crime;   Good;   Rechab;   Samuel, Books of;   Ziklag;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
when the person told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ he thought he was a bearer of good news, but I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was my reward to him for his news!
Hebrew Names Version
when one told me, saying, Behold, Sha'ul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Tziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
King James Version
When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
Lexham English Bible
when the one who told me, "Look, Saul is dead," thought that he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was as my giving the news back to him.
English Standard Version
when one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
New Century Version
Once a man thought he was bringing me good news. When he told me, ‘Saul is dead!' I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news!
New English Translation
when someone told me that Saul was dead—even though he thought he was bringing good news—I seized him and killed him in Ziklag. That was the good news I gave to him!
Amplified Bible
when a man told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' thinking that he was bringing good news, I seized and killed him in Ziklag, to reward him for his news.
New American Standard Bible
when the one who informed me, saying, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' also viewed himself as the bearer of good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
Geneva Bible (1587)
When one tolde me, and sayde that Saul was dead, (thinking to haue brought good tydings) I tooke him and slewe him in Ziklag, who thought that I woulde haue giuen him a rewarde for his tidings:
Legacy Standard Bible
when one told me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
Contemporary English Version
When a man came to Ziklag and told me that Saul was dead, he thought he deserved a reward for bringing good news. But I grabbed him and killed him.
Complete Jewish Bible
when someone told me, ‘Here, Sha'ul is dead,' thinking to himself that he was bringing good news, I didn't reward him for his news but seized him and killed him in Ziklag.
Darby Translation
when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead! and he was in his own sight a messenger of good, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag—to whom forsooth I should give a reward for his good tidings:
George Lamsa Translation
When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought me good tidings, I seized him and slew him in Zinklag, instead of giving him a reward for his tidings;
Good News Translation
The messenger who came to me at Ziklag and told me of Saul's death thought he was bringing good news. I seized him and had him put to death. That was the reward I gave him for his good news!
Literal Translation
when one spoke to me, saying, Behold Saul is dead, and he was as a bearer of good news in his own eyes; even I seized and killed him in Ziklag. I gave that to him as a reward.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I toke him yt brought me worde and sayde: Saul is deed, and he thoughte he had bene a good messaunger, and at Siclag I put him to death, vnto whom I shulde haue geuen a rewarde for his message.
American Standard Version
when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings.
Bible in Basic English
When one came to me with the news of Saul's death, in the belief that it would be good news, I took him and put him to death in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
When one tolde me & sayde that Saul was dead (thynking to haue brought good tydinges) I caught him, and slue him in Ziklag: whiche thought that I woulde haue geuen him a rewarde for his tydinges bringing:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
when one told me, saying: Behold, Saul is dead, and he was in his own eyes as though he brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, instead of giving a reward for his tidings.
King James Version (1611)
When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, ( thinking to haue brought good tidings) I tooke hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would haue giuen him a reward for his tidings:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
he that reported to me that Saul was dead, even he was as one bringing glad tidings before me: but I seized him and slew him in Sekelac, to whom I ought, as he thought, to have given a reward for his tidings.
English Revised Version
when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings.
Berean Standard Bible
when someone told me, 'Look, Saul is dead' and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for Y helde hym that telde to me, and seide, Saul is deed, which man gesside hym silf to telle prosperitees, and Y killide hym in Sichelech, to whom it bihofte me yyue meede for message;
Young's Literal Translation
when one is declaring to me, saying, Lo, Saul is dead, and he was as a bearer of tidings in his own eyes, then I take hold on him, and slay him in Ziklag, instead of my giving to him [for] the tidings.
Update Bible Version
when one told me, saying, Look, Saul is dead, and he was a bearer of good tidings in his own eyes, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings.
Webster's Bible Translation
When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, (thinking to have brought good tidings,) I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who [thought] that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
World English Bible
when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
New King James Version
when someone told me, saying, "Look, Saul is dead,' thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag--the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news.
New Living Translation
Someone once told me, ‘Saul is dead,' thinking he was bringing me good news. But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That's the reward I gave him for his news!
New Life Bible
when one told me, ‘See, Saul is dead,' he thought he was bringing good news. But I took hold of him and killed him in Ziklag. This was the reward I gave him for his news.
New Revised Standard
when the one who told me, ‘See, Saul is dead,' thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag—this was the reward I gave him for his news.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
when he that brought tidings to me, saying, Lo! Saul is dead, though, he, was as one that bringeth good tidings, in his own eyes, yet I seized him, and slew him in Ziklag, - which was how I gave him reward for his tidings:
Douay-Rheims Bible
The man that told me, and said: Saul is dead, who thought he brought good tidings, I apprehended, and slew him in Siceleg, who should have been rewarded for his news.
Revised Standard Version
when one told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and slew him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
when one told me, saying, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.

Contextual Overview

9 But David told Recab and his brother Baanah, "As surely as the Lord lives, he is the one who has rescued me from all my troubles! 10 Once before a man thought he would bring me good news. He told me, ‘Look! Saul is dead.' He thought I would reward him for bringing me the news. But I grabbed this man and killed him at Ziklag. 11 I will kill you too and remove this evil from our land because you evil men killed a good man sleeping on his own bed, in his own house." 12 So David commanded his young helpers to kill Recab and Baanah. The young men cut off the hands and feet of Recab and Baanah and hanged them by the pool of Hebron. Then they took the head of Ish Bosheth and buried it where Abner was buried at Hebron.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

one: 2 Samuel 1:2-16

thinking: etc. Heb. he was in his own eyes, as a bringer, etc. who thought, etc. or, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings.

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 1:15 - Go near 2 Samuel 18:13 - wrought 1 Chronicles 12:1 - these are Job 31:29 - General Psalms 101:7 - He that worketh 1 Corinthians 13:6 - Rejoiceth not 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love

Cross-References

Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What have you done?" She said, "The snake tricked me, so I ate the fruit."
Genesis 4:9
Later, the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" Cain answered, "I don't know. Is it my job to watch over my brother?"
Genesis 4:10
Then the Lord said, "What have you done? You killed your brother and the ground opened up to take his blood from your hands. Now his blood is shouting to me from the ground. So you will be cursed from this ground.
Genesis 9:5
Also, I will demand your blood for your lives. That is, I will demand the life of any person or animal that takes a human life.
Genesis 18:20
Then the Lord said, "I have heard many times that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are very evil.
Exodus 3:7
Then the Lord said, "I have seen the troubles my people have suffered in Egypt, and I have heard their cries when the Egyptians hurt them. I know about their pain.
Numbers 35:33
"Don't let your land be polluted with innocent blood. If a person murders someone, the only payment for that crime is that the murderer must be killed! There is no other payment that will free the land from that crime.
Joshua 7:19
Then Joshua said to Achan, "Son, you must honor the Lord , the God of Israel. Praise him and confess your sins to him. Tell me what you did, and don't try to hide anything from me."
2 Kings 9:26
The Lord said, ‘Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons. And I, the Lord , am telling you that I will punish Ahab in this field.' So take Joram's body and throw it into the field, just as the Lord said."
Job 16:18
"Earth, don't hide the wrong things that were done to me. Don't let my begging for fairness be stopped.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

When one told me, saying, behold, Saul is dead,.... No more is related, not that he killed him, or assisted in killing him, only that he was dead; by which it appears, as Abarbinel thinks, that the Amalekite did not slay Saul, and that David did not put him to death on that account, but for what follows:

thinking to have brought good tidings; which would have been very acceptable to David, that he would have rejoiced and exulted at it as he did; but he was mistaken; instead of that,

I took hold of him, and slew him at Ziklag; that is, ordered one of his young men to lay hold on him, and slay him, as he did, 2 Samuel 1:15;

who [thought] that I would have given him a reward for his tidings; a handsome present, as the Targum here, a gift, or raised him to some post of honour and profit.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 4:10. A reward for his tidings — Ὡ εδει με δουναι ευαγγελια, Septuagint. Here is a proof that ευαγγελιον, evangelium or gospel, signifies the reward which the bringer of good tidings is entitled to receive. See my preface to St. Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1.


 
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